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THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Cisitalia D46 Monoposto

1946Coachwork by Motto

THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE

Model dossier

Production period
1946
Body style
Monoposto
Type
Limited

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR

Coachbuilding, design & conversions

PRICE & SALES RECORD

Vehicle value

Original price
Not documented
Latest recorded sale
Not documented

01 / THE STORY

History & context

The Cisitalia D46 Monoposto is a captivating example of innovation and resilience during challenging times. Designed by Dante Giacosa and Giovanni Savonuzzi, the car was commissioned by Piero Dusio, an industrialist and president of the Juventus Football Club. The story of its creation is as fascinating as the car itself, shaped by determination, creativity, and a touch of wartime adversity. In late 1944, Giacosa was introduced to Dusio through Mr. Casalis, a trusted associate of the Turin industrialist. At the time, Cisitalia was a modest mechanical workshop located on Corso Peschiera, primarily producing Beltrame bicycles. Despite his full-time role at FIAT, Giacosa undertook the design of the D46 in his spare time. Dusio, eager to support the project, extended a generous offer to Giacosa to reside in his villa on Corso Galileo Ferraris. Though the villa had been abandoned after a bombing, it remained habitable and provided a quiet space for Giacosa to focus on the car’s development. The project faced significant challenges due to the war. Giacosa, alongside designer Edoardo Grosso, persevered to bring the vision to life. One notable setback occurred when the first 1:5 scale plasticine model was destroyed by a German police patrol searching for Dusio. Despite such obstacles, Giacosa remained deeply involved, even contributing to the physical construction of the prototype. The D46 featured a simple yet striking aluminum body. The prototype’s bodywork was shaped by coachbuilder Motto with Giacosa’s assistance. Among its unique features were the fairings over the front suspensions, which Giacosa humorously referred to as “aesthetic coquetry”—elements designed to conceal suspension parts rather than serve a practical racing purpose. The Cisitalia D46 Monoposto represents more than just a racing car; it is a testament to the ingenuity and passion of its creators during a tumultuous era. Its legacy endures as a symbol of automotive artistry and the unwavering spirit of innovation.

02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY

Specifications & construction

Production & construction

Production type
Limited

Design & manufacture

Manufacturer · Documented
Cisitalia
Designer · Candidate
Giovanni Savonuzzi
Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
Motto

06 / EVENTS & AWARDS

Events & awards

No events or documented awards are currently recorded for this vehicle.

08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Archive

References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.

ReferenceSource type
MAUTO — Cisitalia D46 www.museoauto.com Manufacturer museum official
Auto Italia — Cisitalia history www.scribd.com Specialist automotive periodical

THE CONVERSATION

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